Title: Home Is Where the Heart Is
Author: Steph
Rating: PG
Pairing: Robin/Patrick
Category: Romance/Drama/bit of Humor
Disclaimer: I do this out of a love for this couple. No infringement is intended.
Spoilers: Nothing really.
Summary: Robin and Patrick travel to his hometown for his grandmother's funeral.
Note: Thanks so much for the great feedback on Part 3! This is the last part, but read my note to you at the end. I have a little surprise for you guys that I think you'll be happy to hear! So, hope you enjoy it and please let me know what you thought! Thanks!
-Steph
---Home Is Where the Heart Is: Part 4/4---
Patrick met Robin's eyes across the room, as he pretended to listen to his annoying cousin, Lloyd, talk about having his plantar's warts removed from his feet and having surgery for his Sweaty Palm Syndrome. He tried to send a plea with his eyes for her to save him. She smiled and excused herself from her conversation with his Great Aunt Helen. She walked over to him and linked her arm with his.
"Lloyd, do you think I could steal your cousin for a minute?"
Lloyd shrugged, pointed to his temple, and closed his eyes. "Making mental note of where I left off in story."
Robin's eyes widened, as she pulled Patrick away. She looked up at him.
"He's interesting."
Patrick smiled. "You're too nice. He's incredibly annoying. He tells the longest, most boring stories ever. And he tells completely inappropriate jokes at completely inappropriate times."
"So I saved you."
"And I will be eternally grateful to you," he said flashing her a dimpled smile.
They headed for the refreshment table and helped themselves to some soda. They stood in silence drinking their beverages, until Patrick suddenly turned to her, his eyes taking on a strange look.
"Let's get out of here," he said.
Robin's eyes widened at him over the rim of her cup. She slowly lowered her cup from her mouth and spoke, "We can't just leave, Patrick. All of your family's here."
"So? I feel like I'm suffocating in here." He met her eyes. "Come with me. I want to show you something."
Robin looked around at his family and then sighed in defeat. "Okay, but just for a little while."
He smiled and grabbed her hand.
---
Robin and Patrick walked down the sidewalk, the cool night's air blowing around them.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see. We're almost there."
A couple of more minutes passed and then Patrick stopped abruptly in front of a house. He looked at it, a wistfulness taking up residence in his eyes.
"Here we are."
"Where is that exactly?"
"My childhood home."
Robin moved her eyes from the house that looked like a replica of his grandmother's to his face.
"Why are we here?"
"I wanted to see it. I haven't been back since my mom died. Dad sold it shortly thereafter."
He walked down the path and up the steps. The house was dark. He brought his finger up and rang the doorbell.
Robin whispered, "What are you doing?"
"I want to see if anyone's home."
"You're not seriously going to ask these people to let you see your old house, are you?"
"No, of course not. I want to see if anyone's home so they won't shoot me when I break in," he replied with a lopsided smile.
Robin's mouth dropped open. "Excuse me? Break in?"
He flashed her a grin. "Yeah. You know how to pick a lock?"
"I am not breaking into this house with you, Patrick!" she replied in a harsh whisper.
"You don't know how to pick a lock then? So much for those superspy genes. You got into my car, so I figured-..."
She sighed. "I took your keys, unlocked the door, and then returned them. Okay?"
He smiled. "Well, I can probably pick it. I've seen enough television shows and movies. Do you have a bobby pin?"
"You're kidding, right?"
"What? Don't women carry those around with them?"
"I haven't used a bobby pin since I had my last dance recital."
"You should really carry them with you. You know, for a situation just like this."
"My uncle is a police commissioner, Patrick. I can't break into a house."
"He'll never know. It's out of his jurisdiction anyway." He raised his eyebrows, "Spontaneous."
"Why does spontaneous have to involve breaking the law?"
"Look, you're not the saint you claim to be. You broke a lot of laws with my father's transplant."
"Yeah, because I was trying to help him. But this-..."
"Would help me," he finished for her softly.
Her face softened and she sighed in defeat. "Fine, just do it. Let's get it over with."
Patrick brought his hand up to the doorknob and was surprised to find that it was unlocked.
"Well, look at that. No bobby pin needed. Technically, now it's just entering."
"Yeah, that'll be our argument went they drag us down to the police station. I'm sure it will go over really well."
Robin realized she was now talking to herself because Patrick had already entered the house. She closed the door behind them, her eyes landing on Patrick who stood in the living room, transfixed.
"It's changed so much. The walls are a different color, they have hardwood floors instead of wall-to-wall carpeting."
"It's been a long time."
"I had this picture in my head of it looking exactly how I remembered. I guess that was stupid though."
He pointed at the big picture window in the living room. "We used to put our Christmas tree in front of that window. We always got a fake one. My mom didn't like the needles all over the carpet."
He moved to the kitchen, smiling when he saw a nick in the tile floor.
"It's still there."
"What is?" Robin said, following his eyes downward.
Patrick pointed. "That chip in the tile. When I was five, I decided my model airplane could really fly. I stood on a chair and let it go. It landed there and chipped the tile. My father wanted to kill me."
He then moved his eyes to the center of the kitchen. Robin saw his eyes grow glassy with tears, as they took on a faraway look. She could tell he was back in the past, watching his father twirl his mother around the kitchen.
Robin swallowed. "Rachel told me your parents used to dance in the kitchen."
Patrick's head snapped in her direction, his eyes wide with surprise. "She told you that?"
Robin nodded. "Yeah. It sounds like they had an amazing marriage."
He moved his gaze back to the middle of the room. "They did."
She opened her mouth to say something else, then snapped it closed. Patrick shook his head and rubbed at his eyes, as he moved up the stairs that led into the kitchen. He made his way to the top and turned left, stopping at the second door on the right. He slowly turned the doorknob and let the door swing open. She could hear him suck in a breath as he took in the room.
"This was my bedroom."
Robin tilted her head, "I'm guessing the flowered wallpaper wasn't here when you occupied the room."
"No, it was painted a pale blue. It was done in a baseball theme. My mom painted it all herself."
He walked in, surveying the surroundings. "The bed used to be right in front of the window." He turned to her, offering her a slight grin. "I copped my first feel right there. I was thirteen."
She rolled her eyes. "Such a warm, fuzzy memory."
He walked over to the closet and pulled open the door. He ran his hand along the frame of the door. "It's still here, too."
Robin took a closer look. There were pencil marks with numbers and dates trailing up.
"My mom used to measure my height every couple of months."
Robin smiled, realizing how many memories this place held for him. She didn't have a home like that. At least, not one she had grown up in from a very young age.
"You miss it, don't you? This house, this town, your family."
Patrick bobbed his head. "When I was a kid, I used to say how I couldn't wait to go away to college. I wanted to live in the city. It was too slow for me here. I never appreciated it."
"But you do now."
"More than I ever thought I would."
The moonlight hit his face, casting shadows across half of it. She bit at her bottom lip. "You came from Manhattan to do the surgery on Jason and you never went back. Port Charles isn't exactly a hotbed of excitement either. What made you stay?"
"My father. I guess I wanted another chance with him, no matter how much I tried to deny it." Robin nodded. She suddenly felt his eyes on her and began to grow uncomfortable. "And you," he added softly.
Her eyes narrowed. "What?"
His piercing eyes captured hers. "I stayed because of you."
Robin could feel her heart begin to beat faster. There was something different in his voice. There was something different in his eyes.
She shook her head and grinned, managing a nervous chuckle. "You mean because you so enjoyed annoying me?"
"You know what I mean," he replied, his voice remaining soft and serious.
Robin swallowed hard and looked at her watch. "We should probably get going. Your family's going to start wondering what happened to us."
She didn't wait for Patrick to respond. She walked out of the bedroom and he followed.
---
"You did not!" Robin said, as she gave Patrick a gentle swat on the arm as they walked on the sidewalk.
He shrugged. "I lost the bet. I had no choice."
"You seriously dressed up as Madonna during her pointy bra stage for Halloween when you were fourteen?"
He grinned. "You're turned on by that, aren't you? I can tell you're picturing it."
Robin laughed and shook her head. "Actually, I'm having trouble visualizing it. I think I may need to see some evidence. I'll have to ask Riley if there are any pictures around."
"Go ahead. I was hot."
Robin laughed again and was just about to turn to say something to him, when she realized he was no longer beside her. She turned around and found Patrick rooted to his spot, staring straight ahead. Robin followed his gaze. There was a park across the street. Without saying a word, Patrick crossed the street. He walked over to the swings and sat down on one.
Robin was surprised, but followed him, taking the swing next to him.
"I used to come here all the time as a kid. My parents used to bring me. Sometimes I'd come with my grandmother. When I got older, I hung out with my friends." He smiled, meeting her eyes. "I had my very first kiss right here on these swings."
She grinned. "Oh yeah, who was she?"
"Her name was Suzy Collins."
"How old were you?"
A smile spread across his lips. "Six."
She shook her head. "Why am I not surprised?"
"We saw her older brother kissing his girlfriend and we thought it looked really gross. So, we decided to see for ourselves."
"And?"
He tilted his head, a crooked smile appearing on his lips. "Well, let's just say that was the beginning of a lifelong hobby."
Robin shook her head and laughed. She didn't notice Patrick had grabbed the chains of her swing with each hand until he pulled her close to him. Her laugh slowly subsided, as she met his piercing gaze. She suddenly felt like she couldn't swallow or breathe.
He licked at his lips, his voice emerging softly. "This is the moment. Right now."
Her brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"What my grandmother told me. She said if I didn't change, then there would come a day when I would look back on this time in my life and I would be able to pinpoint the moment when I let my chance at happiness slip through my fingers." He paused and then whispered, "This is the moment. Right here. Right now."
"I'm not sure I underst-..."
He cut her off by removing one of his hands from the chain and snaking his arm around her waist, pulling her so close their upper bodies touched and her legs fell in between his. His lips crashed into hers, his tongue diving into her mouth. Robin brought her hand to the back of his head, her fingernails digging into his hair. Patrick's lips moved to her jawline, trailing heated kisses all the way to her ear, before moving down her neck.
He slowly pulled back and looked at her, eyes half-lidded. "I kissed my first girl here. I thought it only fitting to kiss my last, too."
Robin blinked back tears and swallowed against the lump in her throat. "So this means-..."
He brought his hand up to her cheek, his thumb making circles along her jaw. "I'm not letting my chance at happiness slip through my fingers. I'm not letting you."
Robin slowly nodded, her head spinning, and took a deep breath. "And this isn't just a reaction to everything that happened with your grandmother and your father, right? You're not going to realize you made a huge decision when you were emotionally fragile and then change your mind, are you?"
He shook his head. "This is a reaction to you. To everything that's happened between us. The truth is, I could have gotten through this without you. But I realized something last night after you left my room and I sat down to write the eulogy. I didn't want to have to. Somewhere along the way, your opinion became very important to me. I would wake up and think of something I wanted to tell you. I would see something or hear something and I'd wish that you were there to share it with me. And that's what a relationship is about, right? Being able to live without that person, but not wanting to."
He paused, his chest tightening in emotion, but his eyes focused solely on hers. She couldn't have looked away if she wanted to. "That scared me for a long time because of what happened with my parents. I saw what losing my mother did to my father. I didn't want to open myself up to a woman and then be devastated if I lost her. I didn't want to take the risk. But seeing my father yesterday and hearing him talk about how he changed his ways to be with my mother...It made me realize that he didn't have any regrets. Even knowing the pain he would go through and how it would devastate him, I knew he would do it all over again in a minute. My father made a choice to be with my mother. And then he was forced to live without her. He didn't have a choice. But I do. I could live without you, Robin, but I don't want to. I refuse to live without you for even one more moment. My father knew being with my mother was worth the risk. I think I'm starting to understand it's worth the risk, too. That you're worth the risk."
Robin smiled, as a tear slipped down her cheek. "I think you're finally starting to get it."
He brushed the tear away with his thumb. "There are some things I'm just a little slow at."
"I knew you'd get there eventually."
He grinned. "Yeah, but you probably thought we'd both be old and gray, arguing about Bingo by then."
She laughed. "It crossed my mind."
He bit at his bottom lip. "Well, we're in this for the long haul, right?" She nodded, a smile spreading across her lips, as he went on. "So, maybe someday we will be old and gray, arguing about Bingo."
Robin shook her head. "I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself. Baby steps, Patrick."
He shrugged. "I understand. You're still afraid I'm eventually going to change my mind. What you don't understand is that once I make up my mind about something, I stick to it."
"No, it's just that relationships are hard work. And sometimes no matter how much you want them to, things don't work out."
He nodded, whispering, "And sometimes they do." He smiled. "I've got a good feeling about this one."
She grinned. "Well, who can argue with a good feeling?"
"No one," he replied, his breath tickling her lips. "Now, you're currently tied with Suzy for my best kiss in this spot. You want to do something about that?"
She smiled into his lips, "It would be my pleasure."
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her onto his lap, as they kissed.
---
Robin smiled, as Patrick absentmindedly rubbed his thumb in circles on the back of her hand. They walked up the path to his grandmother's house and up the porch steps. They stopped at the door, turning to face each other. They looked at each other for a minute, savoring the moment.
Robin smiled. "So, are you going to tell them?"
He grinned. "That we made out on the swings in the park? Nah. Seems kind of tacky, don't you think?"
She offered him a good-natured roll of her eyes. "No, I meant are you going to tell them that you let them believe we were in a relationship?"
He shrugged. "Why? What does it matter now? We're together now, so I don't see the point."
"I don't know. I just felt bad lying to them. Of course, your cousin Rachel figured it out."
His eyes widened. "She did? I should have known. If Riley figured it out, so would Rachel."
"Riley knew?"
Patrick nodded. "Yup, he gave me a whole 'don't let that girl go' speech."
A smile spread across Robin's lips. "I knew there was a reason I liked that guy."
Patrick's eyes narrowed playfully. He wrapped his arms around her waist possessively and pulled her to him. "Don't get any ideas."
Robin's eyes twinkled. "I don't know. He is pretty cute. That dark hair and that dimpled smile."
Patrick scoffed at that. "Well, they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but I've never been a big believer in that. I was doing the dark hair and dimple thing before he was even born."
"How much older are you than him?"
"Three weeks," he said, his eyes sparkling.
Robin laughed. Patrick silenced her by placing his hands on the sides of her face and bringing his lips to hers. Robin snaked her arms around his neck and was just about to bring her hands to the back of his head to deepen the kiss when they heard a squeal.
"Oh, look at them! So cute!"
Robin and Patrick quickly pulled apart. Patrick licked at his lips, the taste of her lingering, and turned in the direction of the door. Aunt Geraldine and Aunt Lydia filled the doorway, huge smiles spread across their faces.
Patrick arched an eyebrow. "You mind?"
Aunt Lydia waved her hands at them. "Not at all. You two go right ahead."
Robin looked at him and muttered, "You guys are definitely related."
Patrick grabbed Robin's hand and maneuvered his way around his aunts to get inside. Most of the family had left by now. Those that remained were in clean-up mode.
Robin turned to Patrick. "I'm going to see if they need any help in the kitchen."
"I'm sure they've got in covered."
Aunt Geraldine swatted him on the arm. "You be quiet! The girl's got manners. My niece, God rest her soul, didn't raise you in a barn. But just because you act like you were raised in one half the time, doesn't mean Robin has to."
"I didn't mean-..."
Aunt Lydia eyed him. "You want to wash those dishes?"
Patrick smiled at Robin and gave her a little push in the direction of the kitchen. "Wear rubber gloves. It'll protect your hands."
She offered him a smirk. "Thanks for the advice."
Robin headed toward the kitchen. Patrick looked at his aunts. "I guess I'll go watch some television."
Aunt Geraldine grabbed his ear. "You're not going anywhere."
Patrick wriggled free of her grip and rubbed at his ear, his face twisting in confusion. "What was that for?"
Aunt Lydia glared at him. "That was for lying to us."
"How did you-..."
"Your cousins have big mouths."
He sighed. "You two didn't seem to have a problem when you were spying on us a minute ago."
Aunt Geraldine smiled. "That's because we knew you weren't faking anymore. There wasn't a need. You didn't know anyone was watching."
Aunt Lydia nodded. "So, you finally decided to stop being a wuss and go after the girl, huh?"
Patrick offered them a toothless smile. "Why couldn't I get the great aunts who bake cookies and pinch my cheeks?"
Aunt Geraldine reached up and pinched his cheek hard, causing him to yelp loudly. She pulled back and he rubbed at his skin.
"Better?" she asked, her smile sweet.
Patrick rubbed at his ear with one hand and his cheek with the other. "I think I need ice again."
He made a move toward the kitchen, but they blocked his path.
"We said you're not going anywhere."
He sighed. "Come on. I'm running out of body parts for you to injure."
Aunt Lydia smiled. "Come with us. We have something to give to you."
Patrick muttered under his breath, "What? Arsenic?"
They threw him icy glares.
Aunt Geraldine shook her head. "Always a comedian. Now, close your mouth and follow us."
He eyed them suspiciously, before following them up the stairs.
---
They entered Grandma Lee's bedroom. Patrick smiled warmly at the room that hadn't changed a bit since he was a kid. Her old quilt still lay on the bed and her rocking chair was by the window.
Aunt Geraldine moved to the bureau and opened up the top drawer. She pulled out a small velvet box and then closed the drawer.
"Sit," Aunt Lydia ordered.
Patrick knew better than to argue. He sat down on the bed and each aunt sat beside him. Aunt Geraldine handed him the box.
"What's this?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Open it and find out, you fool," Aunt Lydia replied.
Patrick opened the box, his breath catching in his chest at the sight inside.
"Mom's engagement ring," he whispered, his eyes focused on the sparkling pear-shaped diamond ring.
"That's right," Aunt Geraldine said.
He looked up at her. "I don't understand."
Aunt Geraldine smiled. "After your mother died, your father brought that ring to your grandmother. He said that he wanted you to have it when you found the woman you wanted to spend the rest of your life with. Noah didn't think he could handle being the one to give it you though, so he gave it to Lee. That was actually the last time he saw her."
Patrick could feel tears begin to sting his eyes.
Aunt Lydia continued. "Lee must have felt something was wrong. She must have sensed something because she asked us to come over last week. She told us that if something happened to her before she could give this to you, then she wanted us to do it. She told us about this new woman in your life. There was something in your voice that told Lee she was the one, even though you wouldn't let yourself realize yet. Lee said she had to pass the family test first though. She had to put up with us and fit in with us. Well, Robin did just that. I know you're not ready for marriage, but you've got the girl now. All you needed was the ring."
Patrick smiled at them. "Thank you."
They put their arms around him and each kissed a temple. Then they pulled back and smiled sweetly, saying, "Don't screw it up."
Patrick laughed.
---
Robin gave her last hug to Patrick's family members. They squeezed her so hard she was sure they broke a few ribs. Rachel and Riley exchanged looks with Robin and Patrick, respectively. They both knew things had changed and they couldn't have been happier.
Robin and Patrick gave one last wave and then headed outside. They walked down the path and got into the car.
Patrick turned to Robin and smiled. "Let's go home."
Robin returned his smile. "I thought you were home."
He brought his hand up and cupped her cheek, meeting her eyes and whispering, "From now on, home is wherever you are."
Robin blinked back sudden tears, as Patrick brought his lips to hers in a soft kiss.
---------------------------------------------THE END----------------------------------------------------
Okay...so I could be convinced to do a little epilogue if you guys really want one! So, convince me, persuade me, bribe me (I accept cash, jewelry, and candy). Actually, truth be told, I already started writing one! But feel free to send cash, jewelry, and candy anyway!
Epilogue coming soon...
Anyway, thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it and please let me know what you thought!
-Steph